Animal-trap.



No.'708,638. Pat ente'd :Sgpt. 9, I902.

S. HETHERIN GTONQ ANIMAL TRAP.

(Application flleli Mar. 25, 1902.)

(No Model.)

Vdi asses f5 kSfjzzZer'z'n yzamlggm by UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAM HETHERINGTON, OF REAGAN, TEXAS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,638, dated September 9, 1902 Application filed March 25, 1902 Serial No. 991907. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAM HETHERINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reagan, in the county of Falls and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Animal-Trap, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to animal-traps; and

it consists in certain novel features of the trances to the holes or burrows of such animals.

In the drawings illustrative of the inven tion, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the trap set or ready for action. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing the trap sprung.

The animal-impaling mechanism will be mounted on a base 10, having a longitudinal aperture 10 and preferably depending therefrom, so as to be inserted into the entrance or mouth of the burrow of the animal. Attached to the base 10 and depending therefrom is a wire cage open at the ends and forming a runway for the animal. This cage is formed of an inner loop 11, an outer loop 11", lower horizontal bars 12 12, connecting the loops, brace-bars 12 12, connecting the loop 11 to the base 10, and upper horizontal bars 13 13, connecting the upper ends of the loop 11 to the base, the inner ends of the bars 13 13 passing upward through the base and formed into coils 13 13 above the base, as shown.

The inner ends of the coils are extended in the form of bars 13 13 terminating in eyes 13 13 Pivotall-y supported at 14 to the under side of the base 10 is the animal-impaling means, consisting of an arm 14, having one endcurving downward and sharpened, as at 14 and the other end extended rearwardly and ending in a loop 14? and adapted to operate in the aperture 10 when in its sprung position, as shown in Fig. 2. Connecting the loop end 14 of the arm 14 to the eyes 13 13 of the spring-bars 13 13 is a rod 15. By this means the force of the spring-coils 13 13 are exerted to maintain the points 14? in their downward position, as shown in Fig. 2, a stop bar 14 being inserted across the cavity 1O to limit the movement of the arm 14, as shown in Fig. 2.

A'trigger' mechanism is arranged to release the bar 14, consisting of a depending arm 16,.

pivotally connected at 16 to the base 10 and preferably having a plate 16 upon its lower end and with its upper end bent off at right angles, as shown at 16.

The bar 16 hangs just in the rear of the loop 11, as shown. Pivotally connected at 17 to the base 10 is acatch-bar17, and likewise pivotally connected to the base 10 at 17 is another shorter catch-bar 17 the latter adapted to engage the spring-bars 13 13 when dopressed and also adapted to be engaged by the longer catch-bar 17*, while the longer catch-bar in turn is adapted to engage the angular end 16 of the trip-arm. By this means the spring-arms are held depressed and by their connection with the arm 14 hold the ends 14! elevated, as in Fig. 1, ready to be released by any movement of the triggerbar 16, as will be readily understood.

The trap will be set so that the animal will enter the guideway through the loop 11, and

when he moves the trip-arm 16 the springbars will be released and the animal will be impaled by the sharp points 14". The plate 16 extends the trigger-arm l6 laterally, so as to increase the area and prevent any possibility of. the animal working past it without operating it.

Most burrowing animals like salamanders and gophers close their burrows by forcing the earth ahead of them, and when the trap is properly set in the entrance to the burrows of such animals any attempt to pass the tripbar 16 or to crowd earth past it will trip it and actuate the trap. The trap will thus be very effective and act with certainty and precision.

The parts all being of wood and of wire (preferably steel) can be manufactured very cheaply and strongly.

The formation and arrangement of the parts may be changed in minor details without affecting the operation or departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an animal-trap, a base-plate, a runway connected with said base-plate and formed by the wire cage open at the ends and wires forming the top member of said cage, said wires being extended through the base, turned into spring-coils and having connected ends forming an arm whereby the impaling device is actuated, substantially as set forth.

2. In an animal-trap, a pair of spring-coils having their inner connected ends extended to form an arm and having their outer ends extended vertically through a base supporting said coils and thence forwardly to form the upper members of a cage or runway, combined with a vibratingimpaling device mounted pivotally between the top members of the runway, a rod connecting the rear end of said impaling device with the arm formed by the connected ends of the coiled springs, and suitable trigger mechanism, substantially as set forth.

3. In an animal-trap, a base-plate, a runway formed of a wire cage open at the ends and with the upper members extended through said base and turned into spring-coils and with spring-arms extending from said spring- 

